Cicero wrote that personal responsibility and moral compass are key to the “Good Life.” He also wrote that “the good life is impossible without a good state; and there is no greater blessing than a well-ordered state.” So, these two are linked.
One of the reasons Donald Trump succeeds is that he demands personal responsibility of his advisors. Reagan did that. Leaders do. But imagine a world in which all did.
Dig deep on this with me, because that world is possible, just not how we live today. Imagine if, instead of fuzzy, weak thinking, agenda-driven nonsense, over-emotionalization, and excuses, illogical decision-making, we had the reverse.
Imagine parents well-trained, encouraged, taking pride again in teaching kids to make rational, non-emotional decisions. Imagine emotion was summoned for only good purposes, to reinforce family, community, national cohesion, not the reverse.
Imagine teachers given the freedom to teach personal responsibility, not encouraged to coddle, excuse, and explain away a lack of personal responsibility, but expected to teach it, model it, and help young people understand the power of self-determination, hard work, and the rewards that flow from responsibility.
Imagine administrators held personally accountable for choices, measured by how much freedom they gave teachers to teach, how much students undertook, how often they listened to parents, but also modeled citizenship, parenting, and tough love.
Imagine a world in which leaders were not fanning dissension, lawlessness, attacks on ICE and law enforcement, not pushing riots and well-paid protestors to rant, rave, and break things, but the reverse, to admire police, military, and our history.
Imagine that we taught kids that there is just one truth, a God-given, reach-into-your-conscience-and-find-it truth, not twenty truths; two genders, not 40 genders; one childhood to learn, understand innocence, wonder, and absorb all the good you can, learn all you can, not face young the horrors of life, as if that were normal.
Imagine spineless media elites stripped of their specialness, no makeup, no preening, but taught to honor truth, how to mow their own lawns, rake their own leaves, clean their own gutters, take personal responsibility, and then…teach it.
Imagine ivy-bedecked professors in their ivory towers, protected by veterans who get dirty, fight, and die for them, suddenly realizing the massive debt on them, and trying to pay it back is through humble admission of wrongness, teaching truth.
As a leader, those who lead in any setting – and we all do or can – we have a responsibility to model personal responsibility, and in this way, reseed, teach it.
I will never forget my Pentagon spaces, destroyed on 9/11, when, by the grace of God, the Lord put me elsewhere. We had a few lines from the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, two-time Vietnam veteran, Colin Powell, on that wall. Ronald Reagan’s National Security Advisor made errors, but advised as leaders do.
Leaders must – as Reagan and Trump have done – ask for truth, not spin, reject happy talk, not what underlings think the boss wants, demand truth, and center on it.
The words on that wall were these: “Tell me what you know. Tell me what you do not know. Tell me what you think. And make sure you know the difference.” Frankly, this is what I imagine Trump asks and should. It is what Reagan asked.
A decision made on what you tell the leader is in fact on you. Truth matters; you are held responsible if you do not deliver it. A decision made by the leader based on what you think, on your opinion about those facts, is on the leader, not you.
Bottom line: Taking personal responsibility for actions and words is old-fashioned, but never out of style. It is good for the one who takes the responsibility and teaches others how to do that. Owning what we do and say – is in short supply.
One reason Trump governs with clarity, as Reagan did, is that he demands truth – personal responsibility – of those around him. Good government – like Cicero’s “Good Life” – depends on it. If more stepped up to it, we would be better off.
Robert Charles is a former Assistant Secretary of State under Colin Powell, former Reagan and Bush 41 White House staffer, attorney, and naval intelligence officer (USNR). He wrote “Narcotics and Terrorism” (2003), “Eagles and Evergreens” (2018), and is National Spokesman for AMAC. Robert Charles has also just released an uplifting new book, “Cherish America: Stories of Courage, Character, and Kindness” (Tower Publishing, 2024).
I don’t have to imagine these things. Growing up in the 40s and 50s, these qualities were present everywhere; in schools, in churches, in medicine, in politics (well, mostly). It was a good time in which to grow up, in spite of world problems.
RBC, an excellent piece for leadership, responsibility and accountability.
Have a good weekend.
To be a good leader you need to demand personal responsibility of yourself before you demand it of others. Asking those around you to be responsible is easy, but you have to set the example. Integrity is the most important trait. Take responsibility for your actions and don’t blame others for your failures.
The mention of conscience in connection with truth is important. It seems as if that idea– involving conscience — is a key to people being honest with themselves first and realizing that the responsibilities that need to be addressed — before presenting any opinions or advice to others — is a part of the foundation for truthfulness. Considering how Liberty depends on Truth in order to provide the good qualities it does ,paints a clear picture of how to go about establishing a system that is honorable. We all have calm, clear conditions, similar to the changes in weather, and periods of storms to deal with , our responsibilities are in large part built around being prepared to do what is right under all conditions — as best as humanly possible. Important ideas presented in this article RBC !
Mr. Charles,
Speak the truth is so important. Don’t lie. My father’s words to me when I was quite young: “I hate liars. Never lie to me”. Lived those words all my life. Life has been easy in always speaking the truth and taking responsibility for your actions and words.
The only way to fix things is to undo everything the communists, socialists, marxists, maoists, and other vile America-hating crap-weasels, like george sorros and bill gates, have done to our Country. We need to make these “philosophies” illegal and remove them from. We must make it so they can never be brought back to the USA. Dole out heavy penalties for these traitors and dispose of them accordingly. Take their assets and strip them of American Citizenship when possible. We should NEVER allow these rotten-thinking cretins to set up shop in our Country again.
Awesome article!! Cuts right to truth in a moral society!
Are you?
That body odor of yours has apparently made you delirious… but you may still regain your acuity with a nice shower while using a big bar of soap!
can’t say it any better so, as Melinda said below: Growing up in the 40s and 50s, these qualities were present everywhere; in schools, in churches, in medicine, in politics (well, mostly). It was a good time in which to grow up, in spite of world problems. great job melinda!!!!
Let’s hope Trump uses this as he faces Iran dilemma. Use your conscience to decide what is realistically good for mankind. You are obligated to the people of America and the World for not starting World War III!.
“Leadership”? This self loving orange colored carnival barker is talking about using nukes to attempt to destroy some nuclear research and development systems in another sovereign nation for Gods sake. Screw the damned Israelis, let them fight it out with whoever they wish to kill the babies of this week. I don’t want to pay for it.
As for Trumps thinking about using “little beautiful nukes” on Iranian targets, does he not know what the probable response would be from China and Russia and perhaps even India and Pakistan?
Trump should go back to corrupt real estate swindling in NYC